Urbanisation: The expansion of urban centresis threatening the very last natural relics in Alpine lowland areas. The easily accessible valleys of the Rhône, Rhine, Inn, Adige/Etsch, and other major rivers have already lost most of their biodiversity value due to urban sprawl.
Traffic: The dense road and rail networksin these valleys exacts a heavy toll through space-eating traffic infrastructure, noise, and air pollution. It is also a leading cause of habitat fragmentation constituting a major barrier for Alpine species.
Tourism: A top industry in the Alps, tourism is a major driver of urbanisation. Large tourist resorts have an area consumption rate that is far greater than that of a non-tourist community. This is especially problematic for remote Alpine regions which would otherwise be safe from urban sprawl.
Agriculture: With increasing industrialisation and globalisation, traditional land management practices are no longer economically feasible. As a result, remote farming locations are being abandoned while the more favourable zones are intensified. This trend has led to a decrease in biodiversity as species rich mountain pastures are either converted into heavily fertilized ‘green deserts’ or overgrown by forests.
Urbanisation: The expansion of urban centresis threatening the very last natural relics in Alpine lowland areas. The easily accessible valleys of the Rhône, Rhine, Inn, Adige/Etsch, and other major rivers have already lost most of their biodiversity value due to urban sprawl.
Traffic: The dense road and rail networksin these valleys exacts a heavy toll through space-eating traffic infrastructure, noise, and air pollution. It is also a leading cause of habitat fragmentation constituting a major barrier for Alpine species.
Tourism: A top industry in the Alps, tourism is a major driver of urbanisation. Large tourist resorts have an area consumption rate that is far greater than that of a non-tourist community. This is especially problematic for remote Alpine regions which would otherwise be safe from urban sprawl.
Agriculture: With increasing industrialisation and globalisation, traditional land management practices are no longer economically feasible. As a result, remote farming locations are being abandoned while the more favourable zones are intensified. This trend has led to a decrease in biodiversity as species rich mountain pastures are either converted into heavily fertilized ‘green deserts’ or overgrown by forests.